Gov. Malloy announces NBC move to Stamford as 'First Five' project

Mary E. O'Leary, Register Topics Editor

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, October 25, 2011

STAMFORD -- NBC Sports Group became the fourth business to take advantage of a tax credit program in the state, a move that will create 450 jobs after it consolidates its Northeast operations and moves to a renovated site that formerly housed the Clairol factory.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made the announcement Tuesday in the city where he was the longtime mayor. The project is slated to start in September 2012.

NBC Sports Group will also use it to build several state-of-the-art studios, including one for the NHL Network that will house most of that network's personnel and create more jobs beyond the 450.

The state's part of the deal is to provide a $20 million loan through the Department of Economic and Community Development, which administers the "First Five" tax credit program that invests state resources in job creation. The point of the program is to attract large businesses to create 200 new jobs in two years or invest $25 million and create 200 jobs in five years.

Stamford has been home to NBCUniversal television production since 2008, when it renovated the Rich Forum Theatre.

"I'm strongly supportive of this expansion in Stamford because we continue to see the positive impact in the local economy and on the workforce," Malloy said.

The other First Five companies are: CIGNA, which will also move it headquarters to Connecticut; TicketNetwork, an online ticketing service, and ESPN in Bristol.

The administration also made a deal with UBS in Stamford to stay here and maintain 2,000 jobs in exchange for $20 million in state loans.